Nickel
Nickel, with the symbol Ni and the atomic number 28, is a chemical element. Nickel is a silvery-white, brilliant metallic element that occurs naturally. It is the sixth most prevalent element on the planet and is abundant in the crust and core. Nickel, like iron, is a common element in meteorites and is also found in trace amounts in plants, animals, and oceans.
Despite being the fifth most prevalent element on (and in) our planet, pure nickel reacts with oxygen and is thus rarely found on the surface. Nickel is particularly stable when combined with iron, which explains its presence in iron-bearing ores and its practical use in stainless steel production.
Nickel is extremely strong and corrosion-resistant, making it ideal for reinforcing metal alloys. It’s also ductile and malleable, which means its numerous alloys may be formed into wire, rods, tubes, and sheets.
Nickel is a corrosion-resistant metal.
This is one of the primary advantages of nickel. When exposed to air, water, or other chemicals, nickel does not corrode or rust. This makes it an ideal material for products that will be exposed to harsh environments, such as marine applications.
Nickel has a high melting point.
Another advantage of nickel is that it has a very high melting point. This makes it an ideal material for products that need to withstand high temperatures, such as furnace parts and aerospace components.
Nickel is magnetic.
One more advantage of nickel is that it is magnetic. This property can be exploited in various applications, such as electric motors and speakers.
Nickel is non-toxic.
Unlike some other metals, nickel is non-toxic, making it safe for use in various products, including those that come into contact with food or skin.
Nickel is affordable.
Despite its many benefits, nickel is relatively affordable compared to other metals.
Why Choose Us
Our Factory
Xi'an Zhanwo Metal Materials Co., Ltd. is located in the University Town High-tech Industrial Park, Chang'an District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China. We have been focusing on nickel-titanium memory alloy and tantalum-niobium products for more than 13 years.
Excellent Team
The company now has a professional nickel-titanium memory alloy wire R&D team and a nickel-titanium alloy cutting-edge technology public relations team. It has created a rare and precious metal team integrating R&D, design and production. It is an expert in the field of high-performance alloys and high-precision processing.
Rich Experience
We focus on the production of nickel-titanium memory alloy and have more than 13 years of production experience
Global Sales
Our products are exported to excellent companies in related fields all over the world and have been recognized and praised internationally. We have close cooperation with the United States, Italy, Germany, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea, etc.
Types of Nickel
Nickel-iron alloys
Nickel-iron alloys are used in applications where a low thermal expansion rate is desirable. The coefficient of thermal expansion of invar is about a tenth of that of carbon steel.
Nickel-copper alloys
Nickel-copper alloys are nickel-base alloys with a substantial alloying element of copper (cu) of 29-33 percent. Mono-phase solid solution of copper and nickel. Heat-treatable nickel-copper alloys with 3% aluminum (al) and 0.6 percent titanium (ti) as additional alloying elements can be enhanced by precipitation hardening.
Nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys
Alloy c-276 (n10276) is the most well-known of these corrosion-resistant alloys. They have a high resistance to reducing acids like hydrochloric and sulphuric acid. Several variations based on this composition have changed the cr and mo amounts and, in some cases, added cu or w to increase corrosion resistance in more oxidizing or reducing environments. Alloy c-22 (n06022), alloy 59 (n08059), alloy c-2000 (uns n06200), and alloy 686 (n06686) are some of the alloys available.
Nickel-molybdenum alloys
Nickel-molybdenum alloys are chemically resistant to strong acids and other reducers such as hydrochloric acid, hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid. An alloy, such as alloy b-2, has a molybdenum concentration of 29-30% and a nickel concentration of 66-74 percent in its chemical makeup. Applications include pumps and valves, gaskets, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and pipe work.
Nickel-chromium-iron alloys
Nickel-chromium-iron alloys combine these elements to generate alloys that resist oxidation and high-temperature corrosion. Alloy 800, also known as incoloy 800, ferrochronin 800, nickelvac 800, and nicrofer 3220, is used in furnace components such as petrochemical furnace cracker tubes and as a sheathing material for electrical heating elements.
Nickel-chromium-cobalt alloys
Nickel alloys with chromium and molybdenum are added to increase creep rupture strength. Alloy 617, for example, has a composition of 20-24 percent chromium, 10-15 percent cobalt, and 8-10 percent molybdenum, with a minimum nickel concentration of 44.5 percent supplied under the brand names inconel 617 and nicole 617.
Nickel-chromium alloys
Corrosion resistance, high-temperature strength, and electrical resistance are desirable properties of nickel-chromium alloys. Nicr 70/30, for example, has a melting point of 1380oc and an electrical resistivity of 1.18-m. Nikrothal 70, resistohm 70, and x30h70. Nickel-chromium alloys are heating elements in toasters and other electrical resistance warmers.
Nickel-titanium alloys
Shape retention and shape memory qualities are seen in nickel-titanium alloys. By making a shape out of this alloy at a higher temperature and then deforming it from that produced shape at a lower temperature, the alloy will remember its original shape and reform it when heated to this so-called transition temperature.
Stainless steel production
Nickel is a key component in the production of stainless steel. It improves the strength, corrosion resistance, and heat resistance of stainless steel, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, from kitchen appliances to industrial equipment.
Alloys
Nickel is commonly used in the production of various alloys, such as nickel-copper alloys (cupronickel) and nickel-chromium alloys (e.G., nichrome). These alloys have specific properties that make them useful in different industries, including electronics, aerospace, and automotive.
Plating
Nickel is often used as a plating material to provide a decorative finish, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance to various products, such as jewelry, coins, and automotive parts.
Batteries
Nickel is used in rechargeable batteries, such as nickel-cadmium (ni-cd) batteries and nickel-metal hydride (ni-mh) batteries. These batteries are commonly used in portable electronic devices, power tools, and hybrid vehicles.
Catalysts
Nickel-based catalysts are used in various chemical processes, such as hydrogenation reactions in the production of margarine and other food products, as well as in petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Electronics
Nickel is used in electronic components, such as connectors, lead frames, and magnetic materials. It is also used in the production of certain types of sensors and actuators.
Coins
Nickel is used in the production of coins in many countries. It is often alloyed with other metals, such as copper, to create coins with specific properties, such as durability and resistance to wear.
Medical devices
Nickel is used in the production of medical devices, such as orthopedic implants, pacemakers, and surgical instruments, due to its biocompatibility and corrosion resistance.
Aerospace industry
Nickel-based superalloys are used in the aerospace industry for manufacturing components that require high strength, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance, such as turbine blades in jet engines.
Physical Properties of Nickel
Nickel has an atomic number of 28 and is a hard silvery metal. It has a melting point of 1455 °C (2651 °F) and a boiling point of 2913 °C (5275 °F).
The density of Nickel is 8.9 grams per cubic centimeter.
It is recognized as a ferromagnetic element. ‘Ni’ is one of only three metal elements that are naturally magnetic (the others being iron, Fe, and cobalt, Co).
Nickel is ductile (it can be pulled out into thin wires) and malleable to some extent (it can be pressed into thin sheets).
Nickel serves as an excellent electrical conductor. Because electrons in nickel are free to move around they are able to carry electrical charge from one end to other.
Nickel is an excellent thermal conductor as well. Heat causes a metal’s particles to vibrate more rapidly and move around more swiftly. Energy is transferred from one particle to another as they come into contact.
Nickel is odorless and tasteless.
Safe Use: Sources of Exposure
Given its many uses and applications, the potential for exposure to nickel, its compounds, and alloys is varied and wide ranging. With respect to occupational exposures, the main routes of toxicological relevance are inhalation and, to a lesser extent, skin contact.
Workers engaged in nickel production—Which may include mining, milling, concentrating, smelting, converting, hydrometallurgical processes, refining, and other operations are exposed to a variety of nickel minerals and compounds depending upon the type of ore mined and the processes used to produce intermediate and primary nickel products. Generally, exposures in the producing industry are to moderately soluble and insoluble forms of nickel.
In the producing industry, soluble nickel compounds are more likely to be found in hydrometallurgical operations. Exposures in nickel-using industry sectors vary according to the products produced and include both soluble and relatively insoluble forms of nickel.
In the past, airborne occupational nickel concentrations were believed to have been quite high (>10mg Ni/m3) in certain producing operations, with some estimates of exposures as high as 100 mg Ni/m3 or more for Ni3S2 sintering (sometimes referred to as "matte" sintering). More recent estimates of exposure (post-1960) are much lower, with current measurements generally averaging <1 mg Ni/m3. Exposures to nickel species in using industries have historically been much lower than in producing industries, with estimates generally averaging well below 1 mg Ni/m3.
Nickel: Mining Methods
Open-pit mining
Open-pit mining is the most common method used for nickel mining, especially for large, near-surface deposits. It involves the excavation of the ore body using heavy equipment and machinery, such as excavators, haul trucks, and drills. Open-pit mining is suitable for deposits that are spread over a wide area and are not very deep. Overburden (the rock and soil covering the ore) is removed to expose the ore body, which is then extracted and transported to the processing plant.
Underground mining
Underground mining is employed for deposits that are deeper or have a more complex geometry that restricts open-pit operations. This method involves creating underground tunnels and shafts to access the ore body. Various underground mining techniques, such as sublevel open stoping, cut-and-fill, and block caving, may be used depending on the specific characteristics of the deposit. Underground mining requires specialized mining equipment and expertise to ensure safety and maximize ore recovery.
How Is Nickel Extracted from Nickel Ore
Nickel is extracted from its ore through a combination of physical and chemical processes. First, the ore is crushed into small pieces. Then, the ore is heated until it is molten and treated with various chemicals or acids which can separate the nickel from other metals and minerals in the ore. Finally, the nickel is filtered out and the remaining ore is disposed of.
Nickel is typically extracted from its ore by a combination of methods, including pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and electrometallurgy.
1.Pyrometallurgy involves high-temperature processes, such as smelting and roasting, to remove the impurities from the ore and produce a nickel-rich matte.
2.In hydrometallurgy, the ore is first crushed and ground to a fine powder. It is then leached with sulfuric acid or ammonia to dissolve the nickel and other metal ions, which are then recovered through a process known as solvent extraction.
3.Electrometallurgy involves using an electrical current to extract the metal from the ore. One common method is electrorefining, in which the ore is melted and an electrical current is passed through it, causing the metal to be deposited onto an electrode.
Overall, the method used to extract nickel from its ore depends on the composition of the ore, the location of the deposit, and the type of technology available.
Nickel:Introduction of Production Process
Raw material wharf
It consists of a birth facility and an unloading facility that aim to move nickel ore transported from new caledonia in a ship to an open-air yard for raw materials in snnc.
Raw material treatment process
Nickel ore unloaded through a raw material wharf is transported through the use of a belt conveyer to be piled up in an open-air yard for raw materials. Raw materials amassed by mine are uniformly mixed according to target component to be put into a dryer so that moisture is removed. At a final stage, ore is transported to preliminary reduction process.
Preliminary reduction process
Preliminary reduction process aims to remove remaining moisture in ore to be supplied to an electric furnace through the use of rotary kiln facilities so that oxygen in nickel and iron existent in the form of oxide can be eliminated.
Electric furnace process
An electric furnace is a process of producing feni molten iron and slag through smelting and reduction of ore that went through preliminary reduction process.
Smelting & casting process
1,500℃-feni molten iron produced in an electric furnace process is manufactured as ferronickel products in the form of luppe in a casting process.
Our Factory
Xi'an Zhanwo Metal Materials Co., Ltd. is located in High-tech Industrial Park, University City, Chang'an District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China. Our company mainly produces and sells rare and precious metal products, including nitinol, tantalum-niobium, tungsten-Nickel, zirconium-hafnium, and titanium products. Nitinol and tantalum-niobium products are the main products of our company. We have been focusing on the nitinol alloy industry and tantalum-niobium products for more than 13 years. Our company's product types include: wire, plate, pipe, rod, target, foil, screw, spring, nitinol jewelry and jewelry accessories, titanium products and titanium crafts, and various customized parts, etc. Relying on the resource advantages of China Titanium Valley and Baotai Group, our company has cooperated with the technical personnel of Northwest Nonferrous Metals Research Institute to train and gather a group of high-level, refined, and professionally skilled personnel for the company.
Certificate
Passed CE certification, IS09001 quality system certification, and obtained a number of patent certificates.
FAQ
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Nickel